U.S. patent number 6,990,391 [Application Number 10/460,463] was granted by the patent office on 2006-01-24 for method and apparatus to control a beverage or dessert dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kan-Pak, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Dennis J. Cohlmia, James P. Cunha, Joel D. Hockenbury, James A. Steinbacher.
United States Patent |
6,990,391 |
Cunha , et al. |
January 24, 2006 |
Method and apparatus to control a beverage or dessert dispenser
Abstract
A liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverage or dispenser apparatus
which includes a storage compartment for a bulk storage container
and which includes a controller to control operations of the
apparatus. The apparatus includes a transceiver module on the
dispenser, wherein transceiver module includes a memory and a RF
transceiver. A replaceable bulk storage container includes a box
transponder whereby a wireless communication link is established
between the box transponder and the transceiver module when the
bulk storage container is within the storage compartment.
Inventors: |
Cunha; James P. (Westford,
MA), Cohlmia; Dennis J. (Wichita, KS), Steinbacher; James
A. (Watertown, CT), Hockenbury; Joel D. (Arkansas City,
KS) |
Assignee: |
Kan-Pak, L.L.C. (Arkansas City,
KS)
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Family
ID: |
31946515 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/460,463 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10261846 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
6705106 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/237; 222/52;
700/225; 700/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23G
9/045 (20130101); A23G 9/228 (20130101); B67D
2001/0811 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
17/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;700/237,225
;222/52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2154204 |
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Sep 1985 |
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GB |
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2287306 |
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Sep 1995 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Tran; Khoi H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Head, Johnson & Kachigian
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/261,846 filed Sep. 30, 2002, now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,705,106 entitled SEMI-FROZEN BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS
and is hereby incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverage or dessert dispenser
apparatus having a storage compartment for a liquid bulk storage
container and having a controller to control operations of said
apparatus, which apparatus comprises: a. a transceiver module
having a memory and a RF transceiver, said module located on said
dispenser; and b. at least one replaceable bulk storage container
having a box transponder, whereby a wireless communication link is
established between said box transponder and said transceiver
module when said bulk storage container is within said storage
compartment, wherein said storage compartment receives two said
bulk storage containers and said transceiver module is located
therebetween.
2. A liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverage or dessert dispenser
apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bulk storage
containers each include a flexible membrane bag including a fluid
connection nipple within a rigid package and including a
communication and control mechanism providing communication between
said controller and said transceiver module to set and control
multiple fluid media parameters of fluid media.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus to
control a liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverage or dessert
dispenser. In particular, the present invention is directed to a
method to control and operate a beverage or dispenser apparatus
through communication between a liquid bulk storage container and
the beverage or dessert dispenser apparatus.
2. Prior Art
There are a number of known beverage or dessert dispensers that
include a liquid storage compartment and an onboard dispenser
microcontroller which controls various functions and operating
parameters of the dispenser. These devices dispense hot, chilled,
or semi-frozen liquid beverages or desserts such as juice, coffee,
slush and "soft-serve" desserts.
For semi-frozen beverages, the consistency is a thick slush that
stands up in a cup or container. The solids content (sometimes
described as "brix") may be maintained by operation of the
dispenser. In one known arrangement, a hollow stainless steel
cylinder is arranged horizontally in a bowl. A helical blade driven
by an electric motor continually moves across the external portion
of the cylinder to scrape off or "harvest" frozen crystals formed
by the refrigeration process. Accordingly, over time, the entire
contents of the bowl becomes semi-frozen and the product is mixed
while in the bowl. One such apparatus is described in Applicant's
co-pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/261,846 entitled
"Semi-Frozen Beverage Dispensing Apparatus", which is incorporated
herein by reference.
Liquid product to replenish the supply in the bowl may be provided
from a bulk storage container. In one type of bulk packaging, a
flexible inner storage membrane, such as plastic, is retained
within a rigid package such as a cardboard or corrugated box. The
liquid product travels from the storage container to the bowl of
the dispenser via a fluid passageway tube.
Currently, it is not unusual for product manufacturers to place
beverage or dessert dispensers in retail locations contingent upon
the retailer using authorized products. Some of the current methods
used to insure compliance include a written placement contract,
periodic field inspections of the retail location, and proprietary
connectors between the product storage container and the dispenser.
The written placement contracts are costly and time consuming to
enforce, field inspections are costly and time consuming, and
proprietary connectors can be manipulated. Other compliance methods
are similarly costly, time consuming or unreliable.
There remains a need to provide a system to assure that a product
manufacturer's product specifications and particular products are
utilized with a particular dispenser.
Existing beverage and dessert liquid mixes have different formulas
for different flavors and different products. For example, a fruit
based product will be different from a dairy based product. The
liquid concentrate may be mixed with water in different rates
depending on the product. Alternatively, some mixes are ready to
use as they come from the storage container and no water is added.
Various mixes may also tend to react differently when placed in a
similar or same dispenser. The liquid product manufacturer is now
reliant on an on-site operator to make any necessary adjustments
such as the torque setting (resistance of the helical blade to
movement), the mix ratio of the water to the concentrate, and to
perform necessary cleaning and maintenance of the equipment. The
liquid product manufacturer is also reliant on the vigilance of the
retail operator to verify that the product is within code and has
not expired.
It would be desirable to provide a system wherein the beverage or
dessert dispenser will automatically adjust to the particular
product being used based on the particular contents of liquid bulk
storage container connected to the beverage or dessert
dispenser.
It would also be desirable to provide a beverage or dessert
dispenser that automatically adjusted mix ratios of product to
water, temperature and other parameters in response.
It is also not unusual for a liquid product manufacturer to require
a certain amount of usage by a retailer or retailers in order to
justify placing or retaining a dispenser at the retail location. A
current method to verify usage is to track purchases through a
distribution channel. This can be cumbersome and ineffective
because of multiple layers of distribution and because of a lack of
accurate reporting of the same.
It would be desirable to have a system and procedure which could
simply and automatically determine the amount of beverage or
dessert usage from a particular dispenser machine at a particular
retail location.
It would also be desirable to control operation of a beverage or
dessert dispensing apparatus through operating control parameters
supplied by a bulk storage container which parameters include
out-of-date product parameters, authorization recognition
parameters, initial freeze set point parameters for the product,
desired concentrate ratio of the mix parameters, torque set point
parameters to control refrigeration of the product, and required
cleaning cycle parameters for the dispenser machine.
Finally, attempts have been made in the past to establish a
wireless link between a fluid supply container and a machine. For
example, see Wheeler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,888 entitled
"Intelligent Fluid Delivery System For A Fluid Jet Printing
System", wherein RFID communication between an ink container and an
inkjet printer is established.
There remains a need to provide two-way communication between a
liquid supply container and a dispenser machine. There also remains
a need to provide a wireless communication system which interfaces
with an existing microcontroller on a beverage or dessert
dispenser.
It would also be desirable to establish a wireless communication
link providing two-way communication between a liquid bulk storage
container and a beverage or dessert dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a liquid or semi-frozen liquid
beverage or dessert dispenser apparatus and a method and apparatus
to control a beverage or dessert dispenser. One embodiment of the
invention pertains to a semi-frozen liquid beverage dispensing
apparatus. The dispenser includes a utility compartment having a
main microcontroller which controls operation of the dispenser. The
microcontroller includes a motherboard connected to a number of
inputs and outputs for various devices and sensors such as a liquid
level sensor and a temperature probe. The microcontroller executes
a control program to control operations of the dispenser. An
operator control interface interfaces with the microcontroller and
is used in connection with operating the dispenser. The dispenser
may include a number of visual displays for advertising and/or
information about the product or products.
In the present invention, the dispenser includes a pair of bowls
for dispensing of semi-frozen liquid beverages. Each bowl includes
a lever which controls an opening in the bowl in order to dispense
the semi-frozen liquid beverage.
The dispenser includes at least one integrated mix storage
compartment area such as a refrigerated storage cavity having a
door on hinges. In the present embodiment, the storage cavity
receives a pair of bulk storage containers. Each container holds a
supply of a desired product mix which will be mixed with water and
cooled in the bowl.
A fluid passageway extends between the bulk storage container or
containers and the bowl. A pump is utilized to transport liquid
from the bulk storage container through the fluid passageway and
into the proper bowl. A clock and a timer track the times of fluid
delivery and thereby gives an indication of the volume of
delivery.
A sensor is capable of sensing liquid level of the semi-frozen
beverage in the bowl with the sensor, in turn, connected to the
pump. When the liquid level is below the sensor, the pump would be
activated in order to deliver fresh fluid into the bowl.
The dispenser includes a transceiver module having a memory and an
RF transceiver. The transceiver module is in communication with a
transceiver antenna located in the storage cavity between the two
storage containers. When multiple storage containers are placed in
the storage cavity, the communication system is capable of
determining orientation and location of the individual containers
by left or ride side and thereby identify the particular
container.
The transceiver control module is interfaced by a wired serial
connection with the dispenser main microcontroller.
The dispenser may also include a card transceiver antenna and a
card receptacle. Information stored in the dispenser memory of the
microcontroller may be copied to an external transponder, such as a
smart card, by bringing the card in proximity to the card
transceiver antenna. The smart card may take the form of a number
of transponders sandwiched between substrate to form a card.
Each storage container includes a flexible plastic membrane bag
which stores a liquid concentrate used to produce the particular
product. The membrane bag is in fluid communication with a nipple
or fitment which will be connected to the fluid passageway. The
membrane bag is retained within a rigid package such as a cardboard
or corrugated box. An RFD tag or box transponder is secured to the
box and may also be accompanied by a printed label containing
information such as product name and nutritional information. The
present invention provides a method to communicate between the bulk
storage container and the beverage dispenser. The system can
ascertain that a storage container has been inserted into the
storage cavity of the dispenser. In addition to unauthorized bulk
storage container discrimination, the invention can identify the
particular fluid media contained in the storage container and then
report and log the same information to the dispenser controller.
This allows the dispenser controller to set selected fluid media
parameters, thereby optimizing performance of the dispenser to the
particular specifications of the fluid media. Additionally, based
on information from the storage container, the dispenser controller
assigns a life cycle based on effective yield. That yield is
monitored through equivalent run time of the pump. When the
calculated volume in the container has expired, the transponder
will be disabled preventing use of an expired container filled with
unauthorized fluid media.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage or dessert dispenser
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along section line 2--2 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a liquid
storage container utilized with the beverage dispenser of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away view of a storage compartment having
a storage cavity to receive liquid storage containers such as shown
in FIG. 3; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing operation of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of
specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not
to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant
invention.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be
made in the details of the invention's construction and the
arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and
scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is
not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of
exemplification.
Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a
perspective view of a semi-frozen liquid beverage dispensing
apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention.
While one preferred embodiment of the present invention is utilized
with a semi-frozen beverage dispenser, it will be understood that
the teachings of the present invention may be employed with a wide
variety of devices including liquid, beverage and dessert
products.
The dispenser 10 includes a utility compartment 12 having a main
microcontroller 13 (not visible in FIG. 1) which controls operation
of the dispenser. The microcontroller 13 will have a computer
motherboard will have a number of inputs and outputs for various
devices to be described, such as a liquid level sensor and a
temperature probe. A microprocessor computer chip on the
motherboard will execute a control program while a memory on the
motherboard is capable of storing the data and text. The control
program runs on the microprocessor chip in order to control
operations of the dispenser. Optionally, a further "daughterboard"
may have additional inputs and outputs. Finally, a motor driver
board may be utilized to control a pump or pumps in order to
receive feedback concerning the speed of the pumps.
An operator control interface panel 16 interfaces with the
microcontroller and is used in connection with operating the
dispenser.
The dispenser 10 may include various displays 17 and 18 for
advertising and/or information about the product or products. The
displays may optionally be illuminated.
The dispenser 10 will include at least one bowl, and in the present
embodiment, a pair of bowls 20 and 22 for dispensing of the
semi-frozen liquid beverages. Each bowl includes a lever 24 and 26,
respectively, which controls an opening in the bowl in order to
dispense the semi-frozen liquid beverage. Optional cup dispensers
29 and 30 are located between the bowls 20 and 22.
The dispenser 10 includes at least one integrated mix storage
compartment area, such as a refrigerated storage cavity 30 having a
door 32 on hinges, shown in the open position in FIG. 1 for ease of
comprehension. In the present embodiment, the storage cavity 30
will receive a pair of bulk storage containers 34 and 36. The
containers hold a supply of a desired product mix, which may be
mixed with water (depending on the particular product mix) and
cooled in the bowl. The refrigerated storage cavity 30 retains the
liquid beverage product in refrigerated but not frozen
conditions.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dispenser 10 taken along section
line 2--2 of FIG. 1. The utility compartment 12 includes a main
microcontroller 13 as previously described. One bowl 20 is visible.
A fluid passageway 40 extends between the bulk storage container or
containers and the bowl 20. A pump 42 is utilized to force and
transport liquid from the bulk storage container 34 or 36 through
the fluid passageway 40 and into the proper bowl 20 or 22. A clock
and a timer (not visible) tracks the times of fluid delivery and
thereby gives an indication of the volume of delivery.
An optional sensor (not shown) would be capable of sensing liquid
level of the semi-frozen beverage in the bowl 20 or 22 with the
sensor connected to the pump. When the liquid level is below the
sensor, the pump 40 would be activated in order to deliver fresh
fluid into the bowl.
A stainless steel cylindrical evaporator 46 extends or projects
horizontally into each of the bowls 20 and 22. A compressor located
above the bowls in refrigeration assembly 48 is utilized to cool
the cylindrical evaporator and, in turn, to decrease the
temperature of the beverage in the bowl. In the present embodiment,
a single compressor is used to refrigerate both of the bowls 20 and
22.
An external helical auger blade 50 surrounds and rotates about the
exterior of the cylindrical evaporator 46 in order to scrape the
semi-frozen beverage therefrom. The helical auger blade 52 is
coaxial with the cylinder.
The dispenser 10 includes a transceiver module 60 having a memory
and an RF transceiver. The transceiver module is in communication
with a transceiver antenna 62. In the present embodiment, the
antenna is located in the storage cavity 30 between the two
containers 34 and 36. When multiple storage containers are placed
in the cavity, the communication system will be capable of
determining orientation and location of the individual containers
by left or right side.
The transceiver control module 60 is interfaced by a wired serial
connection with the dispenser main microcontroller 13.
The dispenser 10 may also include a card transceiver antenna 66 and
a card receptacle.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one bulk storage container 34 apart
from the apparatus with portions cut away and portions exploded for
clarity and comprehension.
The storage container 34 includes a flexible plastic membrane bag
64 which stores a liquid concentrate used to produce the particular
product. The membrane bag 64 is in fluid communication with a
nipple or fitment 68 which will be connected to the fluid
passageway 40 (shown in FIG. 2). The membrane bag 64 is retained
within a rigid package, such as a cardboard or corrugated box
70.
An RFID tag or box transponder 72 is secured to the box 70 and may
be accompanied by a label 74 containing information such as product
name and nutritional information.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the storage cavity 30 apart
from the dispenser device 10. The storage cavity 30 has been
partially cut away for clarity and ease of comprehension. The
transceiver module 60 in communication with the antenna 62 is
visible. One storage container 34 is within the storage cavity.
The present invention is also directed toward a method to
communicate between a bulk storage container and the dessert or
beverage dispenser 10. Although described with reference to
embodiments wherein the dispenser is a slush dispenser, the
invention is not so limited.
The method to communicate provides a detection mechanism so that it
can be ascertained with near certainty that a storage container
inserted into a dispenser 10 is an authorized container. The system
provides an improved delivery system that communicates information
between the container and the dispenser controller.
In addition to unauthorized bulk storage container discrimination,
the system can identify the fluid media contained in the storage
container and report and log same to the dispenser controller. This
allows the dispenser to set selected fluid media parameters,
thereby optimizing the performance of the dispenser to the
particular specifications of the fluid media.
The system improves the ability to insure quality finished product
from the beverage dispenser consistently. This can be accomplished
by identifying unauthorized product and preventing its use and or
alarming and logging the condition. The detection and logging of
such conditions allows for documented enforcement of warranty,
service and placement agreements.
Based on information from the storage container, the dispenser
controller assigns a life cycle based on effective yield. That
yield is monitored through equivalent pump run time. When the
calculated volume in the container has expired, the transponder is
disabled. This prevents the use of an expired container filled with
unauthorized fluid media. Based on information from the container
about the manufactured date and the expire date, the dispenser
controller can monitor, notify and/or prevent the use of expired
fluid media.
Also, based on information from the storage container, the
dispenser controller will adjust the proper ratio of water to fluid
media (described as brix setting) and set the optimum initial fluid
media temperature to be achieved by the beverage dispenser 10.
The system includes an antenna in the mix storage compartment
connected to an RF transceiver. When a storage container 34 or 36
is inserted into the mix storage compartment cavity 30, in close
proximity to the transceiver antenna 62, the transceiver
interrogates the RF transponder attached to the container.
Information is passed from the transponder to the mix storage
compartment transceiver and then to the dispenser controller. This
information is processed and stored to be later downloaded through
the system.
The system also includes a card transceiver antenna 66 placed in
close proximity to an external surface of the dispenser. An
independent smart data card that has one or more transponders
imbedded. The smart card transponders will have read/write
capabilities. When an authorized card is placed in close proximity
to the external surface transceiver antenna, the RF transceiver
downloads or uploads information based on the instruction set. Such
information may include, but not be limited to, the number of
containers used in a certain time period, the type of fluid media,
alarm notifications, cleaning compliance and component run time and
performance.
FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of the information life cycle and
operation of the present invention. As shown in box 80, a label
with an imbedded RFID tag or box transponder 72 is applied to the
storage container such as storage container 34 or 36 during
manufacture. Thereafter, as shown in box 82, the storage container
with product contained therein is labeled with a label. The
imbedded box transponder includes essential information such as the
serial number, the lot code, the product name, the expiration date,
the package volume, and the initial temperature settings (the set
point).
Thereafter, the storage container, such as container 34, with
product therein is shipped to a customer by customary distribution
channels to a retail location to be used in a particular beverage
or dessert dispenser.
As seen in box 86, the storage container is inserted into the
storage cavity 30 of a dispenser. The transceiver module through
its antenna emits a wireless signal and the RFID tag or box
transponder 72 is read by the transceiver module. The information
is relayed to the main microcontroller 13 of the dispenser. As seen
at box 88, the main controller 13 thereby uses the product
operating parameters in order to set up the beverage dispenser for
the use of the specific liquid product. The data concerning the
product package, such as the serial number, lot code, product name,
warranty data, placement agreements and such, is stored in the main
controller 13 memory.
As shown at box 94, each time the dispenser pump runs, the run time
is stored in the main microcontroller memory and also with the RFID
tag or transponder 72 as an accumulating value. Once the
established product pump run time has exceeded the set volume, the
RFID tag is disabled to prohibit any further dispensing with that
storage container. The pump will not, therefore, run.
Additionally, as shown at box 96, periodically, all information
stored in the dispenser memory of the microcontroller 13 may be
copied to an external transponder, such as a smart card by bringing
the card in proximity to the card transceiver antenna. The smart
card may take the form of a number of transponders sandwiched
between substrates. The smart card may use the same transceiver and
have a separate antenna 66.
FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified flowchart of the control flow
during an initial query and communication between the storage
container and the beverage dispenser. As shown at box 100, the main
microcontroller 13, through the transceiver module 60 attempts
read/write communication with the box transponder 72 on the storage
container. This may be described as interrogating the box
transponder. As seen at box 102, the transceiver module 60 in
addition to communication powers the storage box transponder 72. As
shown by diamond 104, if a response is received from the
transponder within x number of seconds, the transceiver module 60
returns data and/or write confirmation back to the main controller
as set forth in box 108. If a response is not received within the
time period (see box 106), the transceiver module 60 sends an error
message to the microcontroller 13 stating that communication with
the box transponder and storage container failed. When the
transceiver interrogates the box transponder and finds a parameter
that is unacceptable, then a preset of instructions on the main
microcontroller 13 disables delivery of fluid from that container.
One way this is done is to shut down the pump, therefore, no
further product is pumped from the storage container to the bowl.
It is also possible to display an error message on the interface
panel 16 so that an operator will be alerted.
Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to
the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other
and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested
herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this
invention.
* * * * *